Indian Actor Faces Possible Ban After TV Expose

By
REUTERS
| Posted March 15, 2005, midnight

Share:

Bombay, India (Reuters) -- Indian film makers called on Tuesday for a ban on actor Shakti Kapoor after he was filmed offering a woman help with her acting career in exchange for sex and later implying the practice was common.

"The Guild is advising its members not to engage Shakti Kapoor for any work in any of their productions," Supran Sen, secretary-general of the Film and Television Producers Guild of India Ltd., said in a statement.

A local television news channel, in its show "India's Most Wanted" at the weekend, showed Kapoor making sexual advances to a female reporter who had disguised herself as an aspirant in the Bombay film industry, known as Bollywood.

Kapoor, who often plays villains in Bollywood movies, said he was trapped by the channel. He said many Bollywood actresses had similar experiences with directors before they made it big in the industry.

"Shakti Kapoor has been completely irresponsible in his behavior and utterances and must publicly apologize to all those whom he has insulted and slandered," Sen said.

Kapoor told Reuters he had apologized to all the actors mentioned in his conversation with the reporter.

"I am pained at the way the channel framed me. I have no doubt it was an attempt to tarnish my reputation," he said.

The channel has publicly denied accusations of entrapment, saying its aim was to expose casting-couch practices.

Guild spokesman Anandya Dasgupta said the group could consider withdrawing the ban on Kapoor if he apologized.

----------------

COPYRIGHT: (c) Reuters 2005. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.